Exchange mechanisms for digital information packages with bandwidth securitization, multichannel digital watermarks, and key management

• US 7,362,775 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US08/674,726
• Time in Patent Office: 4,312 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/477, 370/431, 348/3, 348/384, 455/405, 455/406, 455/408, 705/10, 705/30, 705/35, 705/37, 705/8, 379/114
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467

Abstract

Responsibility can be established for specific copies or instances of copies of digitized multimedia content using digital watermarks. Management and distribution of digital watermark keys (e.g., private, semiprivate and public) and the extension of information associated with such keys is implemented to create a mechanism for the securitization of multimedia titles to which the keys apply. Bandwidth rights can be created to provide for a distributed model for digital distribution of content which combines the security of a digital watermark with efficient barter mechanisms for handling the actual delivery of digital goods. Distributed keys better define rights that are traded between transacting parties in exchanging information or content. More than one party can cooperate in adding distinguished watermarks at various stages of distribution without destroying watermarks previously placed in the content. Additionally, the amount of information which any one party must divulge to another party can be minimized, and “downstream” parties can be prevented is from compromising or otherwise gaining control of watermarks embedded by “upstream” parties.

Claims

1. A computerized method of managing a bandwidth securitization instrument, comprising the steps of:

dividing a total bandwidth resource into a plurality of component bandwidth resource units;

representing a first component bandwidth resource unit with the bandwidth securitization instrument;

receiving at a computer system a value associated with the first component bandwidth resource unit; and

assigning a value to the bandwidth securitization instrument without human intervention, based on the received value associated with the first component bandwidth resource unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at a computer system an offer from a first party to sell the bandwidth securitization instrument;

receiving at the computer system an offer from a second party to purchase the bandwidth securitization instrument; and

transferring the bandwidth securitization instrument from the first party to the second party without human intervention.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bandwidth securitization instrument is a cryptographically secure computer record.

4. A computerized method of assisting a convenience premium to a bandwidth securitization instrument, comprising the steps of:

dividing a total bandwidth resource into a plurality of component bandwidth resource units;

representing a first component bandwidth resource unit with a bandwidth securitization instrument;

estimating a demand at a given moment in time for the first component bandwidth resource unit; and

assigning a value to the bandwidth securitization instrument without human intervention, based on the estimated demand for the first component bandwidth resource unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bandwidth securitization instrument is a cryptographically secure computer record.

6. An electronic method of assigning a value to a bandwidth securitization instrument, comprising the steps of:

dividing a total bandwidth resource into a plurality of component bandwidth resource units;

representing a first component bandwidth resource unit with the bandwidth securitization instrument;

receiving a minimum standard price associated with the first component bandwidth resource unit;

estimating a convenience premium for the bandwidth security instrument with respect to the minimum standard price;

determining an exercise period for the bandwidth security instrument corresponding to a time during which the first component bandwidth resource may be used; and

assigning a value to the bandwidth securitization instrument at an electronic market system based on the received minimum standard price, the estimated convenience premium, the determined probability of failure and the determined exercise period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of assigning a value is performed according to the equation:

V=(1−

Pf)(VI+VT+VC),

where V represents the value, Pf represents the probability of failure, VI represents the minimum standard price, VT is a value associated with the exercise period and VC represents a convenience premium.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the bandwidth securitization instrument is a cryptographically secure computer record.